Our View: Kiel sailor served country admirably

It is not the homecoming members of Robert Dotzler's family had in mind.

Dotzler, 22, of Kiel, died during a diving operation at the U.S. Naval Base in Guam last week. His body was expected to be returned today and a funeral is planned for Saturday.

His mother, Adel Dotzler, told one media outlet that she had a premonition something bad was going to happen to her son. Her fear is one shared by parents and other loved ones of U.S. military personnel everywhere around our dangerous world.

Only a small percentage of those fears are realized. When they are, however, the impact is devastating. Adel Dotzler tells the media she is in disbelief and waits for someone - anyone - to call and say it just isn't real.

The Navy continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Dotzler's death. Details released so far are sketchy. He was observing other divers from the water's surface in a "snorkeling-like role," according to navytimes.com. When the other divers surfaced, they noticed Dotzler was missing and found him at the bottom of the harbor, where he was pulled from the water unconscious and later pronounced dead at Guam's Naval Hospital.

Dotzler had been assigned to the USS Frank Cable, a submarine tender, about 18 months ago. Prior to that he had been stationed at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Florida.

He was apparently a young man on a mission and his Navy career was going places. He had recently been nominated for the Command Advancement Program, which recognizes sailors through meritorious advancement in rank, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Dotzler did not come under enemy fire or die from a hidden roadside bomb. He was, however, serving his country in a capacity just as important as the front-line soldiers, airmen and sailors who are directly in harm's way. The key to Dotzler's service is that he was willing to sacrifice the comforts of home and family for the betterment of his country.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our service personnel - of all ages - who willingly do that each day. It is particularly devastating when one of them is cut down at such a young age, at the beginning of what should be a promising future in service to country and family.

Dotzler won't get a chance to realize that promise, but we are grateful to him for being among those willing to lay down their lives for the rest of us.

We pray for him, his family and all who loved him. May he rest in peace.

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Our View: Kiel sailor served country admirably

It is not the homecoming members of Robert Dotzler's family had in mind.

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